INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

Originally Posted by Penny Hen
Oh, and about electric fences: This is borrowed from another shepherd who lived out West. She puts aluminum strips on her electric fence and smears peanut butter on to bait them. When the coyotes (or other wild preditors) lick the peanut butter they get a full shock of the fence without their thick coats being able to insulate them. They don't challenge her fences after that.



That sounds sadistic-- isn't an electric fence enough?

The point isn't to torture them - it's to "train" them to respect the fence. The kind of charger that most people use has an 'on/off" shock so it isn't a continual shock...just an intermittant jolt. When the intruder touches it with the nose, they get a zap that's enough to help them learn to avoid that fence.

Training like that is also used for the animals inside...say sheep or goats...to teach them to respect the fence.

It is much better and more humane than getting tangled up in a fence and not being able to escape. It teaches the "fear of God" so to speak and everyone on both sides of the fence are alive and happy - just not in each other's space.

 

[pginsber]

I'm brainstorming ideas for my chicken run fence 2.0 upgrade in 2014.
2013 was chicken run fence 1.0 and 1.1 but this winter has not been kind to my fence. Gravity, woods & fall leaves, 12" of snow, barn cat tightrope walking PLUS-- my DOGS have clawed through several squares of fence to steal the tiny bits of bread, squash, cookies, etc that we it out for the crooks. Grr! Stupid (smart) dogs! They act like a crumb would make the difference between life and death for them!
I'm thinking I may need the strength of chain link fabric. Still thinking about it.
Maybe 2-3' hardware cloth 1' buried and lining the inside of a 5' chain link fabric exterior?
Cons for chain link anybody?

 

[pginsber]

I had been getting down to 1 egg every other day from 8 pullets, so I was planning to worm the flock the coming weekend.
I got busy with hospital and surgery stuff this weekend and never thought twice about worming.
Since Sunday, it seems lots of the crew started laying again. (Maybe they were doing their part to poo on the patriots!) Anyway--the past 2-3 days we've gotten 5-6 eggs each day.
Hooray and Yikes! I never got around to my winter worming. Now I'll have to toss the eggs I've waited so many weeks to get!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I have eggs today. Found 1 in three differnt cages. Opened them to see if they were fertile, but I didnt see the "bullseye" in them. Is it too soon? They have only been with roosters for 2 days and these are the first eggs.

I would just keep checking every few days, I would think in a week or 2 as long as the roo's are doing their jobs.

On another thread, someone shared the RatZapper trap which I'd never seen before. No poison for the birds to get into and they can't accidentally be snapped in a trap.

http://www.amazon.com/Rat-Zapper-Ultra-Rodent-RZU001/dp/B00CM859OA

Interesting, I like the idea, no poisons, glues etc.


Kab Love the flock!! they are all adorable

 

[kabhyper1]

Thanks everyone who said nice things about the silkies. I get mixed up trying to multi quote.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Yay!!! More eggs! I also had 2 girls lay today also that haven't in awhile!

My egg basket today.

I think I finally have a new layer!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pullet eggs are always a joy to find!

Dinner time!!!

 

[bradselig]

18+ silkie eggs available!
I will be heading to little Ameraucana moms place this Sunday. I will be heading down 69 south to 70 west. I can bring them with me. I am already meeting someone in Indy around 1:30-2pm.

I am asking $30 for these eggs. No shipping due to weather. Of course pickup in Warren is also available!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Originally Posted by Penny Hen
Oh, and about electric fences: This is borrowed from another shepherd who lived out West. She puts aluminum strips on her electric fence and smears peanut butter on to bait them. When the coyotes (or other wild preditors) lick the peanut butter they get a full shock of the fence without their thick coats being able to insulate them. They don't challenge her fences after that.
That sounds sadistic-- isn't an electric fence enough?
And CCCHICKENS ~ glue traps for rats is slow torture. I think I need to be on a PETA thread! lol

Nope, some animals like coyote, fox and raccoon are persistent. And raccoon are worse than humans at killing for sport.
One raccoon can wipe out an entire flock and only eat 1 bird. It will kill everyone it catches, that's sadistic IMO.
I lost eight 12 week old BCM last spring due to one weak corner in the fence

That's my fault. That raccoon was snoozing inside the grow out coop!

not for long!
Anything I can do to make them fearful of my coops, I will do it without question as long as its "legal".
Then I keep my birds and those critters won't get shot.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

18+ silkie eggs available!
I will be heading to little Ameraucana moms place this Sunday. I will be heading down 69 south to 70 west. I can bring them with me. I am already meeting someone in Indy around 1:30-2pm.

I am asking $30 for these eggs. No shipping due to weather. Of course pickup in Warren is also available!

Killing me!!!! But I have to pass. Having way too many humidity and temp issues.

I had been getting down to 1 egg every other day from 8 pullets, so I was planning to worm the flock the coming weekend.
I got busy with hospital and surgery stuff this weekend and never thought twice about worming.
Since Sunday, it seems lots of the crew started laying again. (Maybe they were doing their part to poo on the patriots!) Anyway--the past 2-3 days we've gotten 5-6 eggs each day.
Hooray and Yikes! I never got around to my winter worming. Now I'll have to toss the eggs I've waited so many weeks to get!

Ugh that stinks! Its just me, but I still give them to the dog/barn cats or our pigs. The amount of medicine in them isn't enough for me to feel concerned for them.

I'm brainstorming ideas for my chicken run fence 2.0 upgrade in 2014.
2013 was chicken run fence 1.0 and 1.1 but this winter has not been kind to my fence. Gravity, woods & fall leaves, 12" of snow, barn cat tightrope walking PLUS-- my DOGS have clawed through several squares of fence to steal the tiny bits of bread, squash, cookies, etc that we it out for the crooks. Grr! Stupid (smart) dogs! They act like a crumb would make the difference between life and death for them!
I'm thinking I may need the strength of chain link fabric. Still thinking about it.
Maybe 2-3' hardware cloth 1' buried and lining the inside of a 5' chain link fabric exterior?
Cons for chain link anybody?

I use it a LOT, but DH gets it at auctions incredibly cheap. If you don't cover the fence, and don't clip wings they can get over.
My BA & LO easily fly right over a 6ft fence. I even have chain link covered over top of my main coop's run.
Predators can reach thru and grab, so keep food and perches away from the perimeter that's not covered with the hardware cloth.
Its a much better choice than chicken wire, and will last a lot longer.

 

[Mother2Hens]

The point isn't to torture them - it's to "train" them to respect the fence. The kind of charger that most people use has an 'on/off" shock so it isn't a continual shock...just an intermittant jolt. When the intruder touches it with the nose, they get a zap that's enough to help them learn to avoid that fence.

Training like that is also used for the animals inside...say sheep or goats...to teach them to respect the fence.

It is much better and more humane than getting tangled up in a fence and not being able to escape. It teaches the "fear of God" so to speak and everyone on both sides of the fence are alive and happy - just not in each other's space.

Well you trained me to understand the concept. Good job!